Michael Gove has unveiled the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper, which sets out a plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it.
The Levelling Up Secretary said: “For decades, too many communities have been overlooked and undervalued. As some areas have flourished, others have been left in a cycle of decline. The UK has been like a jet firing on only one engine. Levelling Up and this White Paper is about ending this historic injustice and calling time on the postcode lottery. This will not be an easy task, and it won’t happen overnight, but our 12 new national levelling up missions will drive real change in towns and cities across the UK, so that where you live will no longer determine how far you can go.”
But does the white paper deliver? We garner opinion from across the sector.
Levelling up at the heart of what councils and combined authorities want for their communities
Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association which represents 350 councils across England and Wales, said: “Levelling up is at the heart of what councils and combined authorities want for their communities and they have a critical role to play in achieving the 12 national missions set out in this wide-ranging white paper.
“The local response to the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated what is possible when central and local government work together towards a shared goal, highlighting the place leadership role councils play in responding to the needs of local communities. It is positive to see devolution being extended beyond England’s city regions and further opportunities for Mayoral Combined Authorities. Inviting every part of England to experience the benefits of devolution and decide for themselves what they need is crucial to improving opportunities and life chances for people across the country, which councils and Mayoral Combined Authorities will embrace.
“The Government’s framework for devolution is an important step and is something that the LGA has long called for. It is good that the framework will apply to all local areas and will not impose a one-size-fits-all approach to governance. We are keen to go further and faster with other government departments so the whole of government is taking a ‘local first’ approach.
“The launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to be distributed via councils, is confirmation of their vital leadership role in bringing together local partners. It will give them greater certainty and freedom to run local programmes that respond to local need and can have a real impact on tackling inequalities and levelling up opportunities, such as boosting employment and skills, supporting local businesses, achieving net zero and leading the Multiply programme to improve adult numeracy. We look forward to actively shaping this with government.
“Local government has a very strong record of data transparency, including through our award-winning LG Inform data platform. We will work closely with government on the development of the new independent body relating to data transparency. This new organisation must add value and not duplicate the work of other bodies.
“Councils want to work with the new Levelling Up Advisory Council and government on making sure that the role of local communities in delivering change and progress is evidenced well, including on the joined-up, sustainable funding settlement needed to empower councils across the country in support of these overall aims.”
White Paper doesn’t quite rise to its own challenge
Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU said: “In the end, perhaps inevitably, the long-awaited Levelling Up White Paper doesn’t quite rise to its own challenge. It sets out an analysis of the causes and impacts of regional economic disparities and proposes 12 missions to address these challenges. These give some clarity to what levelling up means, contain social as well as economic dimensions and have measurable metrics for success.
“It’s far less clear how these missions will be accomplished. The structural reforms to local government and the specific policy measures announced feel piecemeal and, in the main, familiar. Clarity, broader scope and accountability were all important elements that the LGIU wanted to see in this White Paper. However, it’s not clear what the devolution proposals in the paper really amount to. Elected Mayors and county deals cannot drive levelling up unless they are full partners in that enterprise with genuine powers to shape local economies and communities.
“If we want places around the country to level up and stay levelled up, we need to build genuine capacity. That can’t be done if local areas are kept dependent on Whitehall for funding and approval, going to them cap in hand.
“Accomplishing the paper’s 12 missions would undoubtedly make a country a better place, but it remains to be seen whether the Government has the appetite to unlock the local innovation and autonomy that we will need to make that happen.”
Social Housing Regulation Bill a positive step forward
Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “We welcome the breadth and ambition of today’s Levelling Up White Paper, in particular the recognition of the central role housing must play to closing the gaps in regional inequality.
“The Social Housing Regulation Bill is a positive step forward in delivering the commitments the Government made following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. It’s also encouraging to hear the government commit to building more genuinely affordable social housing.
“We strongly support Homes England’s new focus on regeneration and additional funding for areas that need it most; something housing associations have been calling for. We look forward to seeing more detail on this.
“Whether it’s regenerating communities, supporting people into work or building more affordable homes, it’s clear that housing associations will play a key role in levelling up across the country; working alongside local communities, central government and Homes England.”
“Regeneration” being back at the heart of the Government’s agenda welcomed
Mary Parsons, Lovell Regeneration and Partnerships Director commented: “As a national regeneration and partnerships developer, Lovell welcomes the publication of the much-anticipated Levelling Up White Paper. We understand that this goes far beyond the delivery of new homes but does offer a clear recognition of the significant role that housing can, and should, play in addressing economic, social and health inequalities alongside investment into local transport, infrastructure, education and skills.
“It is good to see the emphasis on local accountability and decision making at the heart of this agenda and from our own experience this can act as a catalyst for ambitious and sustainable regeneration. Previous ‘top down’ approaches have often resulted in some places and communities being left even further behind. We need to understand that ‘levelling up’ isn’t just needed between regions; but is also tackling the deep-rooted inequalities that exist within our towns and cities across the country. By taking a locally led approach and keeping communities at the heart of the process we can make a huge difference.
“One of our most successful recent partnerships has been with the West Midlands Combined Authority where funding for brownfield developments has already seen us progress over 800 homes under construction or in planning; part of our target of 4,000 homes. We have pooled our resources and expertise to bring forward stalled former industrial sites in priority economic areas and, by working with our housing association partners, have also enabled higher levels of affordable new homes to be delivered within vibrant, mixed communities. We welcome the investment commitment for Wolverhampton to underpin its continued growth and revitalisation and are testimony to the success.
“Brownfield regeneration is by its nature complex, costly and risky and if the public sector wants to see less pressure on greenfield sites to achieve its housing targets, this Government commitment and resources needs to be in place quickly. We know that we face further challenges ahead in planning a zero-carbon future and need to make sure that the proposals within the White Paper can help create truly sustainable development and use investment into new construction and green technologies as a key part of our economic strategy.
“From our work in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester Combined Authority areas we have seen the benefits and opportunities that investment into quality transport infrastructure can bring both to local economies and supporting housing growth and we welcome the commitment for more devolved transport planning across the regions.
“Above all we welcome the word “regeneration” being back at the heart of the Government’s agenda and the expansion of the remit and resources of Homes England to support and enable. For Lovell “regeneration” means not only improving the physical built environment of our towns and cities, but connecting the people that live there to new economic opportunities by delivering the right types and tenures of homes in the right places and creating, together, places that people will be proud to live and work in.”
Commitment to build more genuinely affordable homes welcome, but lack of additional funding disappointing
Nicholas Harris, Chief Executive at leading housing provider Stonewater, said: “Everyone should have the opportunity to have a high-quality, affordable home that is secure and comfortable, where they can live, raise a family and if needed, work. Much of the Levelling Up agenda remains centred around tackling the persistent inequalities in the Midlands and North of England, but as the pandemic has highlighted, many coastal and rural areas feature some of the highest levels of deprivation and should not be left behind.
“So, whilst it’s encouraging to see that the Government is committed to building more genuinely affordable social homes in the white paper, and we hope to see more detail on this soon, we’re disappointed that the announcement does not include additional funding beyond what was allocated in the latest spending review.
“As one of their long-term strategic partners, we support the extension to Homes England’s remit and look forward to working more closely with them, alongside devolved powers and combined authorities to deliver much-needed regeneration where it is most needed, and enable more people and places to access opportunities that will support them and their communities to flourish.”
Unlocking regeneration at pace
Peter Hawthorne, CEO, LCR said: “The recognition of the vast untapped potential of the under-used land surrounding our railway stations is exciting, because this is so crucial to unlocking the regeneration of place that is a cornerstone of this Levelling Up strategy.
“We’ve seen this potential realised at Kings Cross, as Michael Gove has mentioned before. And will soon see it in cities like Sheffield, where the Levelling Up Fund’s investment into maximising the potential of reduced rail travel times to London will help to bring forward the Sheffield Midland and Sheaf Valley Regeneration Framework, which we have worked on alongside our partners in the city and the wider region.
“While funding is one part of the puzzle and no doubt the focus of much of the feedback on today’s announcement, the other critical element is collaboration between devolved authorities, councils, transport executives, government agencies and landowners. This strategy provides the framework and impetus for this to take place.”
Missed opportunity to tackle the scourge of poor housing
White Paper, Simon McWhirter, Director of Communications, Policy & Places at UKGBC, commented: “Today’s White Paper is a missed opportunity to tackle the scourge of poor housing — a major national home retrofit programme is urgently required to insulate Britain’s left-behind areas from soaring gas prices, and to create tens of thousands of green jobs exactly where they’re most needed. Equally disappointing, is that the Paper is silent on how government intends to support the two thirds of UK households which are owner-occupied, which need to upgrade their draughty, cold homes.
“A new ambition to bring only half of private rented homes up to a decent standard by 2030 is disappointing, as all private landlords are already required to meet a higher energy efficiency standard than that being proposed.
“Climate action can be a powerful engine behind regenerating left-behind areas, and improving both people’s quality of life and the quality of their neighbourhoods. This is a clear and worrying gap in the Government’s vision of how to improve life chances and opportunities across the nation.
“We welcome the announcement of a new wave of devolution; as it’s essential that we give more decision-making powers to the people on the ground who know their area best; from the quality of the housing to the needs of its residents. Local and devolved governments have been a driving force behind progress to improve homes and places and meet net zero targets. However, this will need to be coupled with significant new funding if we are to see a step change in the quality of life in the UK’s left-behind communities.”
Local authorities need more support to deliver high quality housing
Gillian Charlesworth, CEO of BRE, said: “We welcome the White Paper’s intention to improve people’s wellbeing and standards of living by enhancing the quality of the UK’s housing stock. We are pleased to see recognition of the links between the economy, health, and the built environment but we really need to see more detail on the measures required to deliver these outcomes.
“Local authorities will need clear support and direction if they are to deliver high quality housing within the community — but how in practice this can be achieved was missed by today’s paper. Many local authorities have already struggled as successive budget cuts have limited their capacity to focus on delivering the levelling up agenda. We hope to see further detail on the Government’s plans to support them with the skilled people, financial resources and data that they need.
“Another key area of opportunity missing from today’s White Paper is a clear and long-term plan for decarbonising our buildings and training the hundreds of thousands of retrofit workers needed to deliver net zero. Measures that support a clear and effective plan to improve the quality and sustainability of the UK’s housing stock should be at the forefront of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda — but today’s paper signals a missed opportunity to outline this.”
Levelling Up whitepaper leaves planning reform in limbo
Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), commented: “The Levelling Up whitepaper is still to be fully digested, however, at first look, we see some encouragement, for example on spatial planning, SME finance and compulsory purchase, however, it appears a document full of already announced schemes, funding and strategies.”
“The white paper is split into three parts; the full document, a metric and a regional ‘what we have already done’ release.
“In terms of housing, there is a commitment to a National Landlord Register, ending ‘no fault evictions’, a Social Housing Regulation Bill, a repeat of the retrofit strategies already announced in the Heat and Buildings strategy and the announcement of a task force to improve housing choices for older people.
“For planning, the Government appears to be further rolling back from its ambitious, opportunity enabling ‘Planning for the Future’ proposals and instead, has focused on digitisation of planning, tools for engagement and making places and homes ‘beautiful and useful’. However, it was positive to see the Government echo NFB recommendations to explore compulsory purchase and great powers for HomesEngland.”
Rico Wojtulewicz, Head of Housing and Planning Policy for the House Builders Association (HBA), said: “Planning policy is the opportunity enabler and therefore without a commitment to planning reform, levelling up will be business as usual. The broken, party-political planning process hinders the building of new schools and hospitals, makes transport projects delayed and more expensive, stops new employers taking on skilled workers because they cannot find commercial space, and is the reason we have a housing crisis.
The Government thinks brownfield in Bradford will help get homes built in brownfield-less Barnstaple. That developers should placemake; despite councils deciding where homes are permitted to be built. And that it will oversee homes built in the North to support new jobs, even though many councils are already building more than 200% of the minimum housing targets. This doesn’t feel like a revolution for Britain but rather an evolution of how to sell a slogan.”
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